Theseus and the Minatour

Minos, King of Crete, was a powerful, hard-hearted, deceiving man. He had a strong army that he would release into Athens; if they failed to send young tributes every year. Minos had a long, wavy maze, built for him by the master inventor, Daedalus. The Labyrinth, the maze that is as endless as the sky, is home to a terrifying beast. The Minatour – a half man and half bull creature - that is the son of King Minos himself and the beautiful sorceress Pasiphae. These terrified young Athenians would wonder through the labyrinth until, finally, they came face to face with the beast. Can't be many more worse ways to die really.

One day, Theseus asked his father, Aegeus, king of Athens, why he sent 7 young men and 7 young women to Crete every year.

"Because if we didn't," sobbed Aegeus, "Then Minos would wage war on us and I can ensure you that it is a war we would not not win. And the reason that none of them ever return is because they don't go as slaves but merely food for the Minatour."

"Father," cried Theseus, "This is terrible. We can't let this go on. Next time we send a tribute, I will go as one of the young Athenians and I vow that that is the last time the Minatour feeds on Athenian flesh. It will be the last time we send a tribute to this terrible tyrant that calls himself a king!"

Try as he might, Aegeus was unable to change his sons' mind.

"Then I bid you farewell my son, if you succeed then change these black sails to white, so I know you are alive and you are coming safely home back to me."

Theseus waved goodbye to his father whilst trying to stop his fellow Athenians saying, "No need! We'll die anyway!"

As the shipped docked in Crete, a brown haired, evil looking man, presumably Minos, marched down to investigate.

"Is this what you king calls a batch of meals for the Minatour, such puny things, barely even a snack. But anyway, I'm not picking, so who's first into the Labyrinth.

Theseus stepped forward,

"I am Theseus, Prince of Athens and I do not fear you or your son."

Minos smirked,

"Well, son of Aegeus, you are either very brave or perhaps very foolish. You can't beat my son so why not die trying. Fair?" asked Minos, looking around at his guards, who nodded encouragingly.

"Send him in!" screamed Minos

The guards dragged Theseus away.

Behind the king, watching her father taunt Prince Theseus, was Princess Ariadne of Crete. The moment she laid her eyes on the young prince, she fell in love and became determined to help him succeed in his deathly quest.

As the guards left Theseus in the Labyrinth, Ariadne crept into the Labyrinth and whispered,

"Theseus"

Theseus turned and saw Ariadne holding a ball of string.

"Theseus, I do not doubt your strength, but even if you kill the Minatour, you will never find your way out again. Attach the end of this string to your foot so that when you have won, you will follow the thread back here to me."

Theseus thanked Ariadne and quickly set off into the gloomy blackness